Real Madrid employed a strategy very much akin to that of their city neighbours this evening. As at Anfield in midweek, they went with a 4-4-2, with both wide midfielders James and Isco tucked in very tightly alongside Kroos and Modric. This midfield four sat just in front of an equally narrow back four – a formation that had the dual effects of both preventing Barcelona from finding space in midfield and from threading through balls into the channels. The away side ended the game with zero successful through passes, as compared to an average of five per game this season. Continue reading →